Indian Woman Earns ₹1 Crore at Apple After Layoffs, Visa Panic & a 12-Day Job
The American dream has always carried a certain shine for young Indian professionals. But for 29-year-old Tanvi Pisal, the journey from Pune to a six-figure salary at Apple in San Jose was anything but smooth. In a candid conversation with Hindustan Times, Pisal laid bare the layoffs, visa anxiety, cross-country upheaval, and a job that lasted just 12 working days before she finally landed a role earning between $120,000 and $130,000 (over ₹1 crore annually).
From Pune Software Engineer to US UX Designer
Tanvi Pisal began her career in India as a software engineer after completing her engineering degree in Pune. Her first job was at a top global professional services company, where she earned ₹3.5 lakh annually. That figure alone tells you how dramatic her eventual salary jump would be. But the path between those two numbers is where her real story lives.
"I started my career as a software developer," she said. "But I was always inclined towards the creative side." That pull toward creativity led her to pivot into UX and product design, a decision she stands by completely even today. "I know that if I would have stayed in software or tech, I wouldn't have been able to perform better in that because I was always inclined towards the creative side," she explained. The pivot, however, came at a cost. Design roles are far fewer in number compared to software engineering positions, making every job search a steeper climb.
A Master's Degree, a Pandemic, and Delayed Dreams
To formalize her transition into UX, Pisal enrolled in a Master's program in Human-Computer Interaction at San Jose State University. Then COVID-19 hit and disrupted everything. "When I decided to come to the US, COVID hit. Everything got delayed — visas, admissions, everything," she recalled. Despite the obstacles, she eventually made it to the US in the fall of 2021. The academic environment she arrived in was far from welcoming. "There were very limited on-campus jobs. Even café or receptionist roles were hard to find. Too many students, very few opportunities," she said.
Graduating Into One of the Worst Job Markets in Years
Pisal graduated in May 2023, stepping into what she bluntly describes as a "very, very terrible" job market. She managed to convert an internship into a full-time role at a software company, with a starting salary of around $70,000 (approximately ₹58 lakh). It later rose to $80,000. "It was very low," she admits. "But I had to take it because of the market, my niche field, and the visa pressure." That last point is one many Indian professionals in the US know all too well. Visa dependency often forces candidates to accept offers they would otherwise negotiate harder on.
She also pointed to the structural imbalance in design versus engineering job availability. "If there are 100 software engineering jobs, there are maybe 10 design roles. That made things harder." This is a reality that many Indian students switching fields mid-career are beginning to confront. Stories like that of an Indian man struggling with zero job offers despite US qualifications reflect just how widespread this challenge has become across various disciplines.
The Layoff She Saw Coming
After nearly three years with the company, Pisal was laid off on October 30, 2025. She had, however, already sensed what was coming. With AI reshaping the design industry, she had begun interviewing with other firms well before the layoff arrived. "I was in the final rounds with two companies," she said. One opportunity fell through because of visa sponsorship complications. The second was a New York-based startup that put her through a gruelling 10-round interview process before extending an offer.
A Cross-Country Move and a Job That Lasted 12 Days
Pisal received the offer on November 12, 2025. Within two weeks, she had packed up her life in California and moved to New York, joining the startup on December 1. What followed was the most turbulent chapter of her career so far. The work culture was punishing. "It was a 9-to-9 expectation — and even that was considered the bare minimum," she said. In just 12 working days, she was let go. The stated reason was that her work ethic did not match because she was not staying beyond 9 pm.
"I had sold everything in California, moved across the country, and then I was laid off in less than two weeks," she told Hindustan Times. The emotional weight of that sentence is hard to overstate. As someone on an OPT visa, the clock was ticking immediately. "I had around 60 days. I had to find something, otherwise I would have to leave," she recalled.
The 4 AM Job Search Routine That Changed Everything
Rather than spiral, Pisal built a structured daily system. Every morning she woke up at 4 am and spent three hours hitting quick apply on LinkedIn posts. From 7 am to 9 am, she shifted to targeted applications, researching roles on company websites and tailoring her resume for each specific position. The rest of the day went into portfolio building. "This strategy worked," she said. "From January 5 onwards, I was getting at least one call every week." Discipline, in the face of desperation, became her differentiator.
Landing the Apple-Connected Role
Her breakthrough came through a consultancy that placed her in a role working with teams at Apple. The interview was scheduled for 45 minutes but stretched well beyond an hour. "They really liked my work," she said. On February 20, 2026, she joined as a full-time contract UX Designer, based out of the Apple office in San Jose, California. Her current compensation sits between $120,000 and $130,000, which translates to over ₹1 crore annually. It is a number that looks extraordinary on paper and it genuinely is. But Pisal is careful not to let the salary overshadow the full picture of what it took to get there.
Visa Uncertainty Even at the Top
Despite the impressive role and salary, Pisal remains on an F1 OPT visa and is hoping to secure an H-1B soon. Visa limbo is a constant companion for thousands of Indian professionals in the US, regardless of how well their careers are going. It creates a layer of uncertainty that never quite goes away, no matter the job title or paycheck. For Pisal, the financial success has not yet translated into the stability she is looking for.
'Everyone is in Survival Mode'
When asked about the broader state of the US job market, Pisal did not sugarcoat it. "Everyone here is in survival mode. Nobody is really thriving — people just want job security," she said. It is a striking observation coming from someone earning over ₹1 crore. The pressure, she suggests, is not reserved for those struggling. It permeates every level of the professional ladder. This sentiment echoes across many immigrant communities in the US, where the gap between the dream and the daily grind is often quietly enormous. Much like the experience of Indians chasing opportunity abroad, those considering a move to places like Dubai are also weighing similar trade-offs, as explored in this account of an Indian woman sharing the real side of Dubai life.
Her Message to Indians Thinking of Moving to the US
Pisal has a clear message for aspiring students and professionals who are weighing a move to the US. "Yes, the US offers great opportunities and pay. But the pressure is intense. You have to ask if it's worth it," she said. Having spent nearly five years in the country, she acknowledges that the reality is very different from what most people see from the outside. "I saw the glamorous side before coming — travel, money, big tech. But I didn't see this side," she admitted. The loneliness of building a life entirely on your own, in a foreign country, without a safety net, is something she says catches many people off guard. "You have to do everything on your own here. At times, it feels very lonely."
Cautious Hope After Years of Fighting
Despite everything, Pisal has not given up on the US. "It's hard. You have to fight for everything. But maybe, in the end, it will be worth it," she said. That cautious optimism is perhaps the most honest take on the immigrant professional experience — not triumphant, not defeated, but still standing and still trying. Tanvi Pisal's story is not just about money or career milestones. It is about what happens in the space between ambition and reality, and the kind of grit it actually takes to close that gap.
Source & AI Information: External links in this article are provided for informational reference to authoritative sources. This content was drafted with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence tools to ensure comprehensive coverage, and subsequently reviewed by a human editor prior to publication.
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